Burial casket lid lining construction



Filed June 23, 1966 B. E. ELDER BURIAL CASKET LID LINING CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CE 5 6' 1.058

ATTORNEYS Oct. 29, 1968 B. E. ELDER 3,407,459

BURIAL CASKET LID LINING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 23, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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. ATTORNEYS- United States Patent 3,407,459 BURIAL CASKET LID LINING CONSTRUCTION Bruce E. Elder, 410 Crane Ave., Royal Oak, Mich. 48067 Filed June 23, 1966, Ser. No. 559,791 Claims. (Cl. 2719) This invention relates to the construction of burial caskets and, more particularly, to a novel structure for lining the interior of a burial casket lid.

The invention is especially concerned with a type of construction which is well suited for the manufacture of integral prefabricated units. A special feature of prefabricated units constructed according to the teachings of the invention is that they can be readily fitted to accommodate variations of the interior dimensions and contour of different types and sizes of burial caskets.

In the majority of cases, the arrangement and fitting of the decorative lining for burial casket lids has been a custom operation involving the services of a skilled upholsterer, who cut and hand-fitted the lining specially for each casket as it was being built. An important aim of the present invention is the elimination of this expensive custom fitting operation and the provision of an integral liner unit for different sized casket lids which is suitable for manufacture on a mass production basis.

A related object of the invention is the provision of a burial casket construction which is extremely simple and permits the use of inexpensive materials such as paper, cardboard and molded plastics.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel built-in template or pattern means to guide the workman in the arrangement of the decorative fabric lining into attractive draped or folded designs.

In summary, the various objects of the invention are achieved by means of a substantially rectangular member formed of a molded sheet material. This molded member has a curved cross section with its concave side facing away from the inner surface of the burial casket lid. Side framing members are secured along at least three sides of the insert and to the adjacent marginal edges of the lid. A plurality of elongated grooves are formed in the molded insert and elongated fiber stiffening members fit within these grooves and are secured to the insert. A decorative fabric liner covers the insert and fasteners secure folded portions of the fabric liner to the stiffening members. Guide markings spaced at fixed intervals along the grooves on the side of the insert which faces away from the interior surface of the lid form a template or pattern means which is used by the workman as a guide for arranging the decorative fabric liner. Different decorative effects are achieved by securing the fabric with fasteners which are secured to the stiffening members through selected guide markings.

The manner in which the several objects of the invention are achieved will be clearly apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention and from the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of conventional casket in which is installed a decorative lining unit formed according to the techniques of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a right sectional view taken through the lid of the casket shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a lining unit formed according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view similar to FIGURE 3, with certain portions of the structure removed for clarity of illustration.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, a burial casket generally indicated by the numeral is provided with a lid struc- 3,407,459 Patented Get. 29, 1968 ture 11. A portion 12 of the lid 11 is adapted to be raised separately for display purposes. A decorative lining unit 14 formed according to the teachings of the invention is fitted within the raised lid portion 12.

Although the burial casket shown in FIGURE 1 is of the so-called half-couch, Perfection type having an arched lid portion 8 to provide additional body room for viewing purposes, it should 'be understood that the invention is well suited to otherhalf-couch models as well as full-couch types of casket construction.

Turning to FIGURES 2 through 4, the preferred embodiment of liner construction of the invention includes a molded, dished member 15. The insert 15, best shown in FIGURE 4, is preferably molded from cellulosic or polyethylene sheet material, although other plastic materials such as relatively stiff molded paper or cardboard could be employed. Details of the construction of the member 15 will be explained more fully hereinafter.

Side framing members 16 and end framing members 17 and 18 are secured around the marginal edges of the molded member 15. These framing members are generally curved in cross section and conveniently formed of corrugated board or similar flexible material. The construction and manner of installation of the framing members as well as the installation thereof in a decorative lining structure are preferably in accordance with the techniques set forth in Patent No. 3,077,016, issued to John L. White on Feb. 12, 1963, and reference is made thereto for a detailed description thereof. Accordingly, a brief summary will sufiice in the following paragraphs.

The side framing members 16 have corrugated body portions 20 and tab portions 21 and 22 which extend beyond the body portions, As is shown in FIGURE 2, the tab portions 21 are bent backwardly and each may be provided with a suitable scoreline extending adjacent its body portions 20, so that it may be easily and neatly bent. These tab portions are then secured to the marginal edges of the molded member 15 by means of staples or other suitable fastening means.

The tabs 22 are secured to tacking strips 23, conveniently provided just inside the bent over edges of the casket lid. Tacks, staples or nails 24 secure the tabs 22 in place. These may be conveniently covered with braid or other fabric generally indicated at 25.

End framing member 18 is similar in construction to the side frame members 16, being preferably formed of corrugated board and having a curved cross section with its convex side facing outwardly. Framing member 18 is secured to the insert and to the casket end wall by suitable tabs in the same manner as the framing members 16. As is shown in FIGURE 3, the sides 26 of the frame member 18 preferably extend underneath the adjacent edges of the frame member 16 so as to allow for relative adjustment of the side and end frame members while maintaining a neat appearing joint.

In the Perfection casket disclosed in connection with the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the end frame member -17 is provided with a somewhat sharper curvature, so that it has a reduced height as compared with the end frame member 18. As a result of this, the frame member will fit within the arched portion 8 of the lid when the unit is installed.

Attention is now directed to FIGURES 2 and 4 for details of the construction of the molded insert member 15. As is shown in these figures, this member is provided with a curved cross section, with the concave side being adapted to face away from the casket interior.

A plurality of grooves or depressions 30 are molded into the insert 15 and generally extend substantially throughout its entire length. Stiffening members, preferably in the form of wooden tacking strips 31 fit within the grooves and are secured thereto.

As shown in FIGURE 4, I prefer to mold transverse stilfeners 32 at spaced intervals into the surface of the insert. Further rigidity is preferably given to the insert by a third series of stiffeners which extend diagonally with. respect to the grooves 30 and 32, these latter being generally indicated at the numerals 33 and 34 in FIGURE 4.

At uniform intervals along each of the grooves 30, I provide guide markings 36. These markings are preferably in the form of depressions molded or pressed into the guide groovesfor reasons which will appear more fully hereinafter. Additional guide markings may also be provided along the marginal edge of the molded member.

The decorative liner 37 covers the insert 15. As is shown in FIGURE 2, the liner is secured along its peripheral edges to the edges of the insert. The edges of the fabric may conveniently be sandwiched between the tabs 21 and the edge portions of the insert, the sandwich being secured by staples or other suitable fasteners.

The guide markings function as a template or pattern means and with the teachings of the invention, different decorative draped effects are achieved with the fabric quickly and easily by the use of them. In installing the fabric, the workman tacks folds of the fabric material into the tacking strips 31 through preselected guide marks 36 as is shown in FIGURE 2. Various decorative effects can be achieved depending on the guide markings selected. For example, one decorative form of draping can be achieved by using every other mark in the center row of markings 36, as is the case with the arrangement of the fabric shown in FIGURE 4. Two other forms of decorative effect achieved are shown in FIGURE 3. In the lower portion of FIGURE 3, the fabric is secured along the sides of the member 15, at every other marking 36a in the two rows on either side of the center row and at markings 36 in the center row intermediate the selected markings 360. In the upper portion of FIGURE 3, the fabric is not fastened along the center row of markings. If desired, a design can be achieved wherein the folds radiate outwardly from a selected few of the markings 36 along one marginal edge of the molded member towards the other edge of that member.

When the markings are molded indentations or projections as disclosed here in the preferred embodiment, it is possible for the workman to secure the folds of draped material in their proper position simply by feeling the guide markings underneath the fabric as he Works along. Since it is desirable to keep the tacks hidden from view, the tacks can be secured from underneath the fabric even though the guide markings cannot be seen.

The lining construction of the invention is simple to fabricate and can be made of low cost materials. The novel form of insert is extremely rigid even though light materials are used and functions as a pattern for facilitating the arrangement of the decorative fabric lining. The structure so formed can be quickly and easily installed in burial caskets and makes possible a Wide variety of decorative effects.

I claim:

1. An integral lining unit for burial casket lid comprising in combination; a substantially rectangular molded plastic member, said member having a curved cross section and being adapted to fit within the lid with its concave side facing away from the interior surface of said lid, side framing members secured along at least three sides of the rectangular member, each side framing members being adapted to be secured along one marginal edge of said lid, a plurality of spaced apart elongated stiffening members secured to said molded member on the side facing said lid and extending lengthwise thereof, a decorative fabric material for covering the concave side of said molded member, spaced rows of guide marks on said molded member in alignment with, and on the opposite side of each of said stiffening members, and a fastener means for securing folded portions of said fabric to said stiffening members at points indicated by selected ones of said guide marks, whereby different pattern effects are achieved by securing folds of said material to said stiffening members at various of said guide marks.

2. A lining unit according to claim 1, further including horizontal stiffening recesses in said molded member, said horizontal stiffening recesses extending transversely of said stiffening members.

3. A lining unit according to claim 1, further including additional stiffening recesses in said molded member extending diagonally with respect to said stiffening members and said horizontal stiffening recesses.

4. A lining unit according to claim 3, wherein additional guide markings are arranged on the molded memher along the marginal edges parallel to said stiffening members.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said guide marks are recesses in said molded member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM E. KAMM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN INTEGRAL LINING UNIT FOR BURIAL CASKET LID COMPRISING IN COMBINATION; A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR MOLDED PLASTIC MEMBER, SAID MEMBER HAVING A CURVED CROSS SECTION AND BEING ADAPTED TO FIT WITHIN THE LID WITH ITS CONCAVE SIDE FACING AWAY FROM THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID LID, SIDE FRAMING MEMBERS SECURED ALONG AT LEAST THREE SIDES OF THE RECTANGULAR MEMBER, EACH SIDE FRAMING MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED TO BE SECURED ALONG ONE MARGINAL EDGE OF SAID LID, A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART ELONGATED STIFFENING MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID MOLDED MEMBER ON THE SIDE FACING SAID LID AND EXTENDING LENGTHWISE THEREOF, A DECORATIVE FABRIC MATERIAL FOR COVERING THE CONCAVE SIDE OF SAID MOLDED MEMBER, SPACED ROWS OF GUIDE MARKS ON SAID MOLDED MEMBER IN ALIGNMENT WITH, AND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF EACH OF SAID STIFFENING MEMBERS, AND A FASTENER MEANS FOR SECURING FOLDED PORTIONS OF SAID FABRIC TO SAID STIFFENING MEMBERS AT POINTS INDICATED BY SELECTED ONES OF SAID GUIDE MARKS, WHEREBY DIFFERENT PATTENT EFFECTS ARE ACHIEVED BY SECURING FOLDS OF SAID MATERIAL TO SAID STIFFENING MEMBERS AT VARIOUS OF SAID GUIDE MARKS. 